Jan 17, 2004

Box Score

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) Luke Jackson scored 19 points and Andre Joseph 14 as Oregon defeated Washington State 60-45 Saturday.

Oregon, which leads the nation in 3-point shooting percentage at 42.9 percent, made 10-of-18 long-range shots, with Jackson alone contributing five on seven attempts.

Washington State's stubborn defense and methodical offense, however, helped hold the Ducks to their lowest point total of the season, and only one field goal in the final 10:52 of the game.

Oregon countered by allowing the fewest number of points to an opponent since beating USC 53-40 on Jan. 7, 1988.

Shami Gill led Washington State with nine points and 13 rebounds.

While Oregon was building a 16-5 lead in the opening seven minutes of the game, the Cougars were struggling to make a basket, missing on all but two of their first 14 field-goal attempts.

The Ducks had no such problems. Jackson and Davis had 10 points each in the first half, including back-to-back 3-pointers to put Oregon up 35-18 at the break.

The Cougars, meanwhile, shot only 25 percent in the first half and 28 percent overall.

It was reminiscent of Washington State's performance against Oregon State on Thursday night, when the Cougars shot 28.6 percent in a 52-41 loss to the Beavers.

They were much improved in the second half, making 5-of-10 shots in the first six minutes.

But Oregon was equally as hot, putting the game well out of reach with a 10-0 run midway through that included 3-pointers by Jackson, Joseph and Jay Anderson.